Brazil Bets Market: ANJL Seminar on Regulation

What is Brazil's Position in the Global Sports Betting Market?

Brazil ranks fifth in the world in the sports betting (bets) market, according to Regulus Partners, an international consultancy specialised in sports and leisure. After one and a half years of regulation, 86 licensed companies are operating through 188 authorised platforms.

What Will the ANJL Seminar Cover?

On 14 August, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) is hosting the seminar "Post-Regulation Challenges of the Betting Market", produced by Editora Globo. Industry leaders and specialists will discuss topics including tax burdens, sustainability, new consumer-protection technologies, and responsible gambling initiatives.

Who Are the Key Speakers?

• Udo Seckelmann – Head of Gambling & Crypto, Bichara e Motta law firm
• Eric Brasil – Director, LCA Consultores
• Luís Otávio Veríssimo – President, Superior Sports Court of Football (STJD)
• Guilherme Mendes Resende – Economist, MR Consultoria Econômica, PhD from the London School of Economics

Is the Betting Industry Really to Blame for Brazilian Family Debt?

ANJL president Plínio Lemos argues that Brazilian household over-indebtedness stems primarily from overdraft and revolving credit-card interest rates — not from regulated betting companies. He insists it is unfair to hold licensed operators responsible.

What Is the Biggest Threat to the Regulated Market?

Illegal betting remains the sector's greatest challenge. Research by H2 Gambling Capital from early 2026 shows that illegal operators account for roughly 50% of Brazil's total betting market. Because illegal platforms operate online from anywhere in the world, enforcement is a daily cat-and-mouse struggle. ANJL's strategy is persistent internet scanning to identify and shut down illegal sites, even as those sites rapidly change form.

Plínio Lemos stresses that Brazil must legally and publicly distinguish between regulated operators — which practice responsible gambling, protect minors, and pay for their licences — and illegal platforms linked to organised crime.